The Sphere Effect

Well I didn’t have to wait for too long to get that new job!!

I have just been offered a full-time job with Compassion Australia. Compassion is very similar to World Vision, incorporating one on one child sponsorship between donors and children in developing countries. You can find out about them at http://www.compassion.com.au.

I will be working as the Donor Relations Manager for Western Australia, which will enable me to stay in Australia until I have at least finished my MBA, but also gets me into the area that I want to work in - international aid and development. The job includes a lot of travel, mostly around WA and the NT which is great, and will probably also include a couple of field trips every year into the Compassion projects overseas. So it’s a great job for me - including flexibility, travel, interesting work, and christian ethos.

I’ll be visiting some Compassion Projects near Chiang Rai as part of my holiday in Thailand later this week so that I can get some first hand experience of the work that Compassion do here in Thailand. All in all I think it promises to be an exciting year!!!

It’s interesting to look back on 2008 and try to work out what I’ve achieved. I don’t feel like I’ve really achieved all that much, but in retrospect I guess there’s been a bit. It’s been a difficult year which mostly included lots and lots of study and work, and I’m quite relieved it’s all over for the year and I have a chance to relax before beginning Uni again in February 2009.

Unfortunately the trip with Riverview to Thailand didn’t eventuate due to the Bangkok airport crisis which was very disappointing. The group didn’t make it to Thailand but I set off by myself a week later and spent a week with Kath in Chiang Mai. It was great to see what she was getting up to with her organisation - Partners Relief and Development - who do excellent work with the refugees and IDPs from Burma.

I also got to spend a little time with the children I sponsor in Chiang Mai, and I took them a stash of Christmas gifts from some generous donors in Australia. Then it was off to Bali to spend Christmas with mum, dad, Kellie and Kath. We had a lovely relaxing time in Bali and then Kath and I headed off to Koh Samui in Thailand for New Year. We got in a bit of boogey time last night for NYE which was great fun!

So my wrap up for 2008:

Houses sold - 1
Houses bought - 1
New cars - 1
Units finished of my MBA - 7
Contracts finished - 1
Times I got sick - 1 (and only a cold at the end of the year)
New friends made - at least 15
Kilos lost then gained then lost (and almost gained again) - 6kg
Countries visited - 4
New countries visited - 0 (oh dear)
Boyfriends - 0 (big surprise there)

And looking forward to 2009 - a thought about what ‘could’ be in store.

Off to Vietnam for a couple of days next week (Yay - I can add a new country to my list)
Back to Chiang Mai to visit some Compassion Projects and to go to a Christian conference.
5 more units of my MBA (please let it be over soon)
A new job (fingers crossed)
A move back into the Humanitarian sector (no more telecomms please)
Some direction in life would be very nice (God are you listening?)
Travel, travel, travel - wouldn’t it be great to find a job that also let me travel? Watch this space
Motor bike????
Another 6kg off would be great - with no off/on/off/on….

Here’s wishing everyone a fantastic new year with many of God’s blessings.